VMSS111218

StarMorningThe

www.vernonmorningstar.comS2 Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star

Keep your Christmas-heart

open all the year round.

~Jessica Archmint

Warm wishes for a Christmas season Warm wishes for a Christmas season full of love and laughter.full of love and laughter.

The Management and Staff of

Little Tex would like to wish you and your families

a veryMerry Christmas!

Thank you for your support over the last 20 years

3302B - 29th Street, Vernon250-558-1919

Home LeisureBEACHCOMBER

Beachcomber Home Leisure would like to thank the North Okanagan for your support throughout

the year.

The Management and Staff at Beachcomber Home Leisure would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy

Holiday Season! We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

“The foundation of every successful businessis its customers”

5309 26th Street, Vernon

250-542-3399

T hank You!T hank You!T hank You!T hank You!

WINTER WONDERLAND

NATALIA VIGNOLA/MORNING STAR

Haylee Mackintosh (above), three, excitedly takes in all the action and activities going on around her during the Winter Wonderland Light Up at Predator Ridge Resort. Cali Schmidt, two, puts the finishing touches on her reindeer hat during the Winter Wonderland Light Up at Predator Ridge.

www.vernonmorningstar.com Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star S3

VERNON HOBBY CENTRE1011 Kal Lake Road, Vernon, BC 250-542-8232TUESDAY - SATURDAY 10AM - 5PM

Bill & Ardel Weins would like to thank their

customers for the support shown to us over the past

year.

We wish all a Merry Christmas and continued prosperity in the New Year

From all of yourFrom all of yourfriends at Askews.friends at Askews.

We value your business and We value your business and wish you all the best this holiday wish you all the best this holiday

season and in the New Year.season and in the New Year.

WWarmest armest HHoliday oliday

WWishesishes

Country Court Mall, Armstrong250-546-3039

www.askewsfoods.com

We would like to wish our friends, families We would like to wish our friends, families and members all the best this Holiday Season. and members all the best this Holiday Season.

Vernon Branch • 910 - 4400 32nd Street, Vernon, BC250.550.7500 • www.prospera.ca

Season’s GreetingsSeason’s GreetingsWishing you all a joyous holiday season

Executives Realty Ltd.

Real Estate On The Move

Personal Service You

Can Count On

250-306-5579

Darcy Darcy SochanSochan

Shelley Shelley DugganDuggan

250-550-5570

An angel without wingsH.L. ATKINSFor The Morning Star

After hanging the last ornament on the Christmas tree, Emilee stepped back and stood beside her father. “We’re done, Daddy.”

Her father scooped her up in his arms. “Not yet my little angel.” Emilee looked at the tree with a thought-ful frown. Her father said, “What’s the matter…my…little…angel, can’t you see what’s missing?”

Emilee glanced up at the top of the tree and then looked into her father’s eyes, moving her face closer and closer until their foreheads touched. “We forgot the Christmas angel!”

“That’s right!” Her father spun around several times before dumping Emilee in a giggling heap on the sofa. Then he stood on a chair and attached the silver-winged angel to the top of the tree. “What do you think, Emilee?”

“She’s beautiful, Daddy.”While her father packed a large cardboard box

with the bits and pieces leftover from decorating the tree, Emilee sat on the sofa gazing up at the angel.

When her father returned from taking the card-board box downstairs, Emilee said: “I don’t think we should leave Santa any cookies.”

“Why not?”“If Santa eats too many cookies, he might get stuck

in a chimney.”“That’s never happened to him before.” “I think we should leave something for the rein-

deers instead.”“All right. I bet they like carrots.”“Yeah, carrots would be good. Reindeers don’t eat

cookies do they, Daddy?”“They might, but carrots would be better for

them.” Emilee nodded in agreement.Emilee watched as her father vacuumed up the

pine needles that had fallen on the carpet. As soon as he turned off the noisy machine she asked, “Why don’t all children get presents from Santa?”

“Well, some families don’t celebrate Christmas. Why are you asking?”

“One of the Christmas songs says Santa always knows if you’ve been bad or good. He puts your name on a list. And if you’re bad he won’t give you a pres-ent.”

“That’s just a song, Sweetie. Someone wrote those words to be funny…sorta like playful teasing. Santa

brought me presents and I wasn’t always good when I was your age.”

Emilee reached for her doll and held Hannah tightly in her arms.

Her father was returning to the room after putting the vacuum cleaner away when Emilee blurted out, “I want to give Hannah to Santa.”

Her father sat down on the sofa. “You want to give Hannah away? Hannah is your favourite doll.”

“Daddy, I love Hannah so much…that’s why I want to give her to somebody else.”

“I don’t understand.”“If I give Hannah to Santa, Santa can give Hannah

to someone who isn’t going to get a present. Someone who isn’t…won’t have anyone to love on Christmas morning. Can we Daddy? Please.”

“Sure we can, if that’s what you want.”“Do we leave Hannah with the carrots?”“Let’s see….Oh, I know. We’ll take Hannah down-

town and leave her with the people who work in the Salvation Army building. They will tell Santa they have a gift waiting for him. On Christmas Eve Santa and his reindeer will stop there and pick up Hannah. Santa will know a special girl who will love having Hannah to play with.”

“Daddy, why do you have tears in your eyes?”“Because you’re a real Christmas angel.”“I’m not an angel, Daddy, I don’t have any wings.” Merry Christmas to All!

VICTORIAN COOKING


Elisabeth Daldrup and Berthold Schroeter take their turn at roasting marshmallows over an open fire dur-ing the Victorian Christmas event at O’Keefe Ranch.

The holiday season is the The holiday season is the perfect time to thank all perfect time to thank all our friends and clients for our friends and clients for their continued support. their continued support.

We appreciateWe appreciateyour business.your business.

Serving the North Okanagan and Shuswap areas since 1922Tel: 1.888.535.2667

ARMSTRONGREGIONALCOOPERATIVE

S4 Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star www.vernonmorningstar.com

Holiday Greetings From Our Family To YoursHoliday Greetings From Our Family To Yours

May a circle of family, friends and good cheer surround you during this magical season.

§

With warmth in our hearts, we thank you for your kind support.

2103 48th Avenue, Vernon (beside Geniers) • 250-260-3281

May you and your family be surrounded by

love this holiday season.

VILLAGE GREEN CENTRE • 250-545-4944 380 ALEXANDER STREET NE - SALMON ARM • 250-832-8040

w w w. j c b r a d l e y j e w e l l e r s . c o m

Christmas applesMURIEL ATKINSON SANDERSONFor The Morning Star

My Dad, Jerry Atkinson, served in France and Belgium during the First World War. One of his very appreciative memories included the retelling of a Christmas time story.

During the First World War, in all the cold and wet and muddy awfulness of that war, at Christmas time they would receive, in the Front Lines, boxes of McIntosh apples from the Coldstream Ranch, Vernon, B.C.

What a thrill for my dad, when, more than 50 years later, in 1966, he came to live with us in Vernon,

home of the Coldstream Ranch! After that war, Christmas became

family time on a farm in northern Alberta. Even when there was not enough money for presents, there was always a Christmas tree with home-made decorations, and the Christmas stockings. We children would wake, and excitedly head for those stockings.

Amongst the little things in each stocking would be a huge deep red McIntosh apple.

And, to this day our children and grandchildren find, along with their Christmas stocking stuffers, a very red McIntosh apple.

NANC Y VISSERFor The Morning Star

It was in a clapboard house on an old home-stead in northern Alberta that a young mother’s tears poured freely down her face, dripping into the fruitcake batter she was stirring, adding one of the elements of blood, sweat and tears that homesteaders lived with on a daily basis.

Her husband Bob, a cat skinner, had just left her with the news that he would have to stay in camp and work in the bush at Christmas time, leaving her home alone with their passel of seven kids on Christmas day. She knew they needed the money but why at Christmas did he have to go?

Usually Florence heard the shouts and laugh-ter of her kids as they hurried down the long driveway after the school bus dropped them off but so engrossed was she in her misery and noisy sniffles, it stifled the sounds. Her eldest, 12 year old Margaret, burst through the door, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of her mother sob-bing and stirring the batter.

Florence quickly wiped her swollen eyes with the back of her hand and turned away, embar-rassed that her daughter had caught her in such a state.

As soon as she’d shed her coat and overshoes, Margaret hurried to her mother, concern written all over her young face. She circled her mother’s waist with her thin arms and begged to know what was wrong. There was no avoiding it, and Florence knew she’d best share with her daughter before the other children clamored through the door, waking the youngest from their naps.

Margaret paled at the news and bravely did her best to comfort her mother before setting out milk and cookies for the other children. Florence busied herself with getting the fruitcakes in the oven and cleaning up while the children chat-tered on about their day at school, getting louder and louder with excitement about the Christmas holiday break in a couple of weeks and about the snow forts they’d build for snowball fights with their cousins.

As they sat around the big kitchen table chat-tering and teasing the little ones, the youngsters

never noticed the quiet that had descended on their mother and sister.

The days flew by with Florence extra busy covering off the morning chores Bob would have taken care of were he home. There were the chickens, a few pigs, the family cow and that blasted old sheep Bob kept around for his father who just couldn’t bring himself to get rid of the last one when the old folks moved into town. The pathetic old thing was matted with clumps of snow and bleated sadly whenever it thought anyone was listening.

The boys did the evening chores but the morning chores always made for a late start at baking bread, laundry, and a dozen other things that needed to be done every day to keep the home fires burning. The old cook stove and potbelly heater were always as hungry for wood as the kids were for food, and those two chores alone kept one busy.

Florence slipped briefly out the back door to fetch wood from the box by the back steps, and quickly reentered the warmth of the house. She tossed the frost covered blocks into the stove and listened to the sizzle as the flames engulfed them.

She stood back, worry lines creasing her beau-tiful face as she wondered how she was going to tell her kids there wouldn’t be any presents under the tree when they woke up Christmas morning. She had no way to travel the 20 miles into the post office to collect a parcel and she couldn’t tell them that.

A 1950 Christmas

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Invis Mortgage brokers Tanya Cederholm (from left), Jeremy Schaffner and Dawn Stephanishin help deliver more than $4,900 worth of new clothing and supplies to the Vernon Women’s Transition House and Salvation Army, as part of the national Angels in the Night charity foundation. The money was raised at the Vernon office.

See MOST MEMORABLE on S5

“She wondered how she was going to tell her kids there wouldn’t be any presents

under the tree.”— Florence

Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star S5www.vernonmorningstar.com

Gifts of time and love are

surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

~Peg Bracken.

Her eyes welled up with tears and she turned away so her three year old wouldn’t see them.

If only they’d been able to afford a telephone per-haps she could have called one of her brothers.

Well, she could still fill the children’s stockings with homemade candy and popcorn balls and that would have to do. She choked back more tears at the thought.

A worried glance passed between Florence and Margaret Christmas eve as they helplessly watched the children’s excitement build and then deflate as they listened to their mother advise that Santa couldn’t come this year.

One could tell they didn’t really believe her as they whispered amongst themselves, trying to hide their grins as they chased each other up the stairs to bed.

Finally Margaret kissed her mother goodnight and headed listlessly up the stairs, glancing unhap-pily over her shoulder at her mother who was shov-ing more wood into the stove.

Alone with her thoughts Florence sipped a hot cup of tea and mused glumly about the parcel from Eaton’s, the contents of which she should have been distributing under the branches of the sparsely deco-rated tree.

She glanced up at the beautiful, tattered angel adorning the top and snorted to herself as her cheeks wetted with tears.

It was so quiet in the house now with the chil-dren asleep that she was able to hear the car wheels crunching on the frosty snow as it slowly made its way down the driveway.

Who the blazes could that be she wondered.For a moment her heart fluttered, thinking that

by some miracle Bob had made it home but when she looked out the window it wasn’t his car but her brother’s that illuminated the driveway.

Somehow, he had heard she was alone with the kids and it occurred to him to run into town after work and check the post office as he knew there was no way his sister could do it and that was how most folks did their Christmas shopping in the far north.

There was a parcel alright and after going home to do his chores, have dinner and spend Christmas eve with his own family, he’d gone out into the cold, bitter sub-zero night, knowing he’d be travel-ling 40 miles each way to make sure his sister and her children would wake up to a happy Christmas morning.

Her brother entered the room with a wide grin and scooted the parcel across the floor towards her as Florence flew into his arms, thanking him profusely.

She joyfully shared a cup of tea and Christmas cake with him before he headed out into the clear, crisp night for the long drive home.

Thanks Santa, she whispered in his ear as she softly closed the door behind him.

And that’s what made Christmas 1950 the most memorable of all!

Christ brings hope in my darkest hour

Most memorable Christmas

MURIEL SANDERSONFor The Morning Star

It was September 4, 1998. My hus-band would be dis-charged from Foothills Hospital in a few days, where he had spent the past three months. We had been vacationing in the Calgary area, when he suddenly suf-fered a severe condi-tion (another story). He would not be dis-charged from hospital until I had found an apartment for us to live.

We were told that accommodation was almost impossible to find. However, after

only two phone calls, I was able to secure a small bright apartment near Chinook Mall, which was what we wanted. The only fur-niture we had was our folding canvas chairs and TV tables, small microwave, dishes, and mattresses and bed-ding from our camper van. Fridge and stove came with the apart-ment.

The day that I

removed all of these things from our van, including our clothing, and arranged them in the apartment, I had a very strange experi-ence.

I was ready to head back to the hospital, and as I stepped out into the hallway, I was suddenly overcome by an over-whelming sense of loneliness. It was so heavy, I felt I would sink to the floor.

I knew that I could not allow that to happen, so I just kept on walk-ing.

I opened the doors and stepped into the entrance way. As those doors closed behind me, a soft, gen-tle voice spoke to my mind, saying “You are not alone.”

I knew that it did not mean I was not alone because my hus-band was still alive and recovering. It was more than that. It was much more than that!

As I realized that possibility, the awful heaviness lifted, and I felt so free!

I opened the front doors, walked out into the bright sunshine, and headed for the hospital.

Sometime later, during the Christmas season, words of a Church sermon gave me an insight that had never occurred to me before: the relationship between December 21

(the shortest day of the year) and December 25, Christmas.

The period sur-rounding December 21 is the darkest time of the year. But, in that darkest time, Christmas - The Christ - comes to us, with His message of comfort and hope! Just as He came across the water to his disciples

in their boat in rough seas. He spoke, calm-ing both their fears and the waves.

Was it Christ who spoke to me, between those doorways, in that darkest hour? If it was, then The good news is, what wondrous com-fort and hope there is for us all.

Thanks be to God.

“You are not alone.”— a voice

Continued from S4

To our Families, Friends and Clients.

Thank YouThank You for your for your support this past support this past

year and weyear and welook forwardlook forward

serving you inserving you inthe New Year.the New Year.

To our Families, To our Families,Friends and ClientsFriends and Clients

Warm WishesWarm Wishes

4 LOCATIONS IN VERNON TO SERVE YOU3905 32 St

250-260-353314 - 2601 Hwy 6250-260-7740

5205-25th Ave250-260-5922

2501 58 Ave250-260-6583

E YOUYOUUUOOYYEE OE YOU501 58 Ave

50-260-658350 260 6583

LOCLOCCCOOLLOLOC05 32 St260-3533260 3533

44 44444 3990

250-20 2

ay this ay this Christmas end Christmas end

the present year the present year on a cheerful on a cheerful

note and make note and make way for a fresh way for a fresh & bright New & bright New

Year!

ere’s wishingere’s wishing you & your you & your

family Faith & family Faith & Happy Holidays!Happy Holidays!

MM

H

Always Great Food Always Great Food & Good Times!& Good Times!

4513 - 254513 - 25thth Ave, Vernon • Ave, Vernon • 250-542-9222250-542-9222

Eric Foster MLA Vernon - MonasheeDeputy Government Caucus Whip

250-503-3600

May health, peace and happiness be with you this Holiday Season


SEASONAL SHOPPING


Taliah Bellman (top), seven, browses through some scented candles made by Kelowna’s Soy Natural during Shoparama at the Vernon Recreation Centre. Pat Devlin checks out a beautiful hand made pottery serving bowl as Valdis Vilks of Anita Studios talks up the finer details.

MerrMerryy Christmas ChristmasTo Our Many Good Friends This Holiday Season

DIETER’S AUTO SERIVCE4705 - 31ST Street, Vernon

250-545-2980

In the course of doing business this past year, we feel blessed to have made many new

acquaintances, while enjoying the opportunity to serve many of you whom we know so well.

For this privilege we are grateful, and wish you all a very merry Christmas filled

with glad tidings from beginning to end.

STORE HOURS: Monday to Saturday 8 am - 6 pmSunday 10 am - 4 pm

TOREEE HE HOE HOHHOHOHOUURSURS:URS:URS:URS:RS: M dMMondMondMondMondM tay tay tay tay t SSo Sao Sao Sao SaS dt dturdturdturdturd 88ay 8ay 8ay 8ay 8ay amamammm 6 p

3525 Mill StreetARMSTRONG, BC1-888-546-3002 250-546-3002

Warm wishes, smiles on every face Warm wishes, smiles on every face and special moments withand special moments with

friends and family.friends and family.To all of our customers and friends, To all of our customers and friends, we wish a very Merry Christmas we wish a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!and a Happy New Year!Thank you for your loyal supportThank you for your loyal support

S

SHEPHERD’S HARDWARE

Great Price, Friendly Advice Locally Owned& Operated

Peace on Peace on EarthEarth

May the magic May the magic of Christmas of Christmas bring peace bring peace

and happinessand happinessand surround and surround

you withyou withthose you love.those you love.

For your For your business business

we are truly we are truly grateful and for grateful and for your friendship your friendship we feel doubly we feel doubly

blessed.blessed.

Little KingdomGas Bar & Grocery

11284 Westside Road, Vernon250-545-2515


READY TO GOBBLE

SUBMITTED PHOTO

There wasn’t any short-age of turkey at the Kindale Community Christmas Lunch thanks to the generosity of community supporter Vantage One and Gumtree Catering for preparing the birds. Chefs Christopher Davy and Steve Quibell, along with Sarah Pruckl from Gumtree Catering, dis-play the turkeys.

A Christmas tree pleaSince my life began

as a seedling years ago, I have existed for one primary purpose – to spread joy and holi-day cheer during the Christmas season.

Being the center of attention comes and goes as the decorations go up and come down, but are you aware of just how brief my life cycle is?

It all starts with my production in a nursery. When I’m old enough, I’m cut down, fastened to a vehicle and transported to the home of a loving fami-ly where I’m decorated and put on display.

For the duration of the holiday season, I’m the main feature of family gatherings and I always take cen-tre stage on Christmas morning. But when the holiday season ends and Christmas decora-tions are put back in storage, I’ll be left out in the cold.

The final stage of my life will involve being sent to a landfill where I’ll slowly decompose . . . or worse, go to an incinerator to meet a fiery death.

I’m speaking out to say that it doesn’t have to end like this.

Mi l l ions of Canadians will have a Christmas tree this year, but many don’t recognize that I and thousands of my fel-low tree friends can be recycled and put to greater use.

Adding to this bad news for us trees, one in three Canadians

aren’t even sure if a tree recycling program exists in their commu-nity.

To my relief and that of thousands of natural

Christmas trees across the country, there are ways we can be re-used long after the holiday season has come and gone.

The best thing to do with your tree after Christmas has passed is to recycle it. You can recycle me through tree mulch-ing and recycling pro-grams, which are both fast-growing practices across Canada.

Once trees are recy-cled, we can be turned into erosion barriers, garden mulch and can even be used to cre-ate feeding grounds for lake fish.

Christmas trees aren’t just a symbol for cheer and tradition; we can be recycled to have a tangible, posi-tive affect on the envi-ronment long after the holiday season is over.

For more informa-tion on Christmas tree recycling programs in your community, or more ways to help you reduce waste and help the environ-ment, please consult www.wmcanada.com or your community’s works department.

JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR

Make recycling your Christmas tree just as much of a tradition as enjoying it.

#106 3334 30th Ave. Downtown Vernon(Next to Welk-Mart) • (250)545-7997

#106 3334 30th Ave. Downtown Vernon(Next to Welk-Mart) • (250)545-7997Fareed & Ziba

Wondrous WishesWondrous Wishes

For a joyous & safe holiday season to every person we have

had the privilege to serve this year.

Stan, Renee, Brian, Bobby-Jo

250-549-7288250-549-72881-866-942-72881-866-942-72884206 25th Ave., Vernonwww.pgsurgmed.com“Leader in Health Care Products”

SURG-MED LTD

Thank youfor the

continued support this past year.

Seasons Greetings & a

Happy New Year from...

www.jaydeeassociates.com • [email protected]

• TILE • CARPET • HARDWOOD

Serving the Greater Okanagan area!

Renovations & FlooringRenovations & Flooring

Duane VankeimpemaDuane Vankeimpema 250.938.2994250.938.2994

May the Holiday May the Holiday Season fill your home with joy, Season fill your home with joy,

your heart with love & your your heart with love & your life with laughter.life with laughter.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORSINDUSTRIAL • MAINTENANCE • COMMERCIAL• RESIDENTIAL • BUDGETS • AUTOMATION

VERNON, BC(250) 545-3254 • www.1and2electric.com

DATA • VOICE • FIBEROPTICS • AUTOMATIONWIRELESS • CCTV • POWER QUALITY

(250) 545-3254 • Vernon, BCwww.1and2electric.com

A Division of 1 & 2 Electric Ltd.

MORE POWER

TO YOU AT CHRISTMAS!

We’re wishing you and yours a bright and shining

holiday season!

To our valued customers:In lieu of gifts, we have contributed to

the food banks of the area.

Merry Christmas and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New YearHappy New Year


In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season,In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season,let us not forget all our loyal patrons and friends.let us not forget all our loyal patrons and friends.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from

these Armstrong businesses!these Armstrong businesses!

Wishing you health,

happiness and

prosperity in 2012

2850 Wood Avenue250.546.4014

Patricia Paterson Chartered Accountant

250-546-3081

• Manufacturer of Gravel Dump Boxes & Flat Decks

• Equipment Repair

Armstrong Machine Shop Ltd.

Propane Solutions - - Unparalleled Service

1791 Eagle Rock Rd.250-546-3422

1871 Pleasant Valley Rd.

A Growing Nursery in the Okanagan

See you in the spring!

WINES • CIDERS • COOLERS • BEER

Both At One Location!

REVERSE OSMOSISSELF-SERVE WATER

2545 Patterson Ave.250-546-6954

www.armstrongwineandbrew.com

ArmstrongDental Centre

We are proud to be

part of the

Armstrong Community

Dr. Preethi Trusselland staff

2775 Wood Avenue250-546-9811

W

HappyHappyHolidays!Holidays!

CIBC Armstrong wishes you aHappy Healthy Holiday Season!

Peter & Jolanda RotzetterPeter & Jolanda Rotzetter6 - 3495 Pleasant Valley Rd6 - 3495 Pleasant Valley Rd

250.546.2886250.546.2886

~ Handmade Swiss chocolates~ Handmade Swiss chocolates~ Swiss style Gingerbread~ Swiss style Gingerbread

WE ARE MOVING after Christmasto the Armstrong Towne Centre

3495 Pleasant Valley Roadand re-opening Jan. 3rd

Thanks to everyone forsupporting local business

250-546-0087

OPEN SUNDAY, DEC. 18 • 11AM - 4PMOPEN SUNDAY, DEC. 18 • 11AM - 4PM

The miracle mangerLINDA LISCHEWSKIFor The Morning Star

It was the day before Christmas. Sitting at their kitchen table were a sad Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their two younger children, Susie and Benny.

It was with puzzled eyes that they were examining a very quaint-looking nativity set. Mr. Jones had found it in the attic about a week after the family had moved into the large old house at the beginning of November. The move had been such a happy time for the growing family.

But how quickly had their joy turned to sorrow. Eleven-year-old Emma sud-denly became ill and she was hospi-talized with the prognosis being very grave. Now the family examined the nativity scene, though its workmanship was rough, it was oddly attractive with a mysterious appeal. It was only about 10 inches high and although the paint had faded, the figures were still quite easily discerned. The five figures were carved from bone, Mary holding the Christ child on her lap, a sailor playing a mouth organ, and angel, and the fifth, a manger stuffed with hay that strange-ly enough smelled as sweet and fresh as the day it was mown. Mrs. Jones reached out to touch it and discovered a small, flat drawer in which lay carefully folded pages of a manuscript, yellowed and mildewed with age.

“What is this? A letter? Maybe it will tell us something about this strange nativity set,” she said.

Mr. Jones spread them out on the table in front of him, scanning the script of a by-gone day. “This is very old. It’s a letter dated March 16, 1953,”

he began to read: To you, the finder of this manger and manuscript — if the narrative you are about to read may seem strange, if not even improbable, I do indeed understand. However, I know it to be true, for I experienced it. And so I ask that you do not falter in perusing it, but bear with me until the end to reserve judgment.

My name is Jonathan Croft of London. By trade I am a simple sailor earning my way in the world by ship-ping out on whaling vessels. In the year of Our Lord 1852, in the month of December, I found myself employed aboard The Raven under Captain Spearing’s command.

After hunting in the Atlantic for a considerable time without glean-ing our quota of oil, we sailed further south and encountered a fierce gale and were blown off course to the Bermuda Triangle, that treacherous expanse of water where ships mysteriously disap-pear.

Surrounded now by a calm sea, we set to repairing the rigging and on the third day we sighted a ship off star-board. As she came closer, displaying her British colours, we saw that she was The Duchess, a merchant vessel upon which my brother Matthew was employed.

Hailing us, her first mate sent a message that my brother lay dying. Requesting a transfer to The Duchess, I was met with a stern refusal, my captain being a bear of a man with excellent sailing sense but a heart pickled in brine.

See A MEMORABLE on S9


A memorable Christmas morning “All I ask is that I see

my brother for an hour or two. Have ye no sym-pathy, sir?”

“Sympathy?” scoffed Captain Spearing. “Aye, I sympathize with ye, but abandoning my ship is abandoning my com-mand and that’s passive mutiny which I will not allow.”

I resolved to leave with or without the cap-tain’s blessing, and so that night I lowered one of the boats and made my way to The Duchess. I suddenly had a most peculiar feeling of dread for I had lost my sense of direction. I could not see the ship towards which I was rowing , nor could I see The Raven from which I has just debarked. It seemed as though a thunderstorm might erupt, yet there was not a cloud in the sky. A flash of light engulfed me and though I was still sitting in my boat, I was no longer at sea.

I now found myself on land, surrounded by

low hills among which nestled a small town which stood a wondrous star of the first magni-tude. Shining beings of light swept across the sky, their voices blend-ing in glorious song. As I sat staring in awe, one of the beings soared down beside me. I real-ized I was looking on an angel. Then, ere I could bethink myself, he had taken hold of my arm, turning toward the town. I have no recol-lection of the passage of time. I found myself standing at the entrance to a stable.

“Bethlehem. The mysterious energy of the Bermuda Triangle has somehow trans-ported me back in time to Bethlehem.” I entered the stable. On bended knee, I looked upon the sleeping Christ child, so tiny, so beautiful. When presently he awoke, Mary, giving me a most beautiful smile, placed him on her lap.

“Take a handful of the hay,” said the angel. “It will help your broth-er. It will heal him. Lay it

upon his brow.”I reached into the

manger taking some of the hay which was still warm from where the child had lain and tied it safely into my hand-kerchief. “And what can I give in return,” I asked, humbly bowing my head in gratitude.

“Play a tune on your mouth organ,” came the reply. All I knew were mainly sea shanties which I deemed inap-propriate for the occa-sion. The angel smiled and I played sever toe-tapping tunes which were indeed enjoyed by all present. Mysteriously, the angel returned me to my boat and to the sea.

It was still dark. Thinking my experience a dream, I reached into my coat for my hand-kerchief, expecting to find it folded but it was indeed filled with sweet-smelling hay. I resumed rowing and reached the vessel on which my brother lay dying. Gently I touched his bearded cheek, calling his name. Then taking the hay from my coat,

held it to his brown, his hands, and then again to his brow.

With a deep sigh, Matthew slowly opened his eyes. “By the great head of leviathan, but I’m hungry!” he roared with a loud laugh and sitting up in his berth amazed the crew mem-ber who had just wit-nessed a miracle.

I remained aboard The Duchess and in the spring of 1853 I chanced one day upon a derelict and salvaging some of the planks, built this sta-ble and manger to house this precious hay. The figure I carved out of whale bone.

May this miracle manger be a bless-ing to anyone who is ill, in despair, or bereft. Signed, Jonathan Croft, London.

For a moment after Mr. Jones had finished reading the letter, no one spoke. Mrs. Jones said, “Oh, Bill. Do you believe this? Is it pos-sible? If so, this manger could help Emma.”

“It’s a fantastic tale and wonderful if true,

but...” he was inter-rupted by a phone call from the hospital asking the family to come to say their good-byes to Emma.

Mrs. Jones was the first to enter Emma’s room, carrying an old wooden box from which she carefully withdrew the manger, placing it beside her dying child’s bed. How pale Emma looked, how small, how laboured her breathing.

With the family gath-

ered around, Mrs. Jones gently held some of the hay to her daugh-ter’s forehead, then her cheeks, her hand, then once more to her brow. Nothing seemed to hap-pen.

Once again Mrs. Jones placed the sweet-smelling hay on Emma’s hands. It was then that the little girl heaved a deep sigh and with her breathing finally resum-ing a normal, gentle rhythm, she opened her

eyes. When she saw her parents and siblings, her face lit up in a smile. Emma had indeed recov-ered. The joyful family spent the rest of the day with her. The medical staff was puzzled but allowed Emma to go home the next day.

And so, Christmas morning, the Jones family brought home a happy, rosy-cheeked Emma to the most joy-ous Christmas they had ever known.

Continued from S8

Season’s Season’s Greetings

On behalf of Council and Staff,May you have a Safe and

Happy Holiday Season

Todd Dew, owner and pharmacist at Hogarth’s Clinic Pharmacy, wishes to extend a holiday greeting from the friendly folks at Hogarth’s. They hope you have the merriest holiday ever!

As you take time out to enjoy the holidays with friends and family, please remember the less fortunate. Hogarth’s Clinic Pharmacy is supporting the Salvation Army and would like to encourage you to do what you can this holiday season, with monetary donations, donations to the food bank or volunteer for the kettle drive.

Season’s GreetingsSeason’s GreetingsfromHogarth’s Clinic Pharmacy

HOGARTH’S CLINICPHARMACY LTD.

3310 - 32nd Avenue, Vernon • 250-545-3660

S10 Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star Season’s Greetings Sunday, December 18, 2011 - The Morning Star S11


We will be closed for theholidays from December 23rd - noon- opening 8 a.m. January 2nd, 2012

We send the joy of Christmas to you& your loved ones.

Merry Christmas from Mayor, Council and Staff

to the Residents ofLumby & Area.

250-307-7318 • 250-307-7318 • www.mikesandstra.comwww.mikesandstra.comEXECUTIVES REALTY LTD.

#3 - 8106 Highland Place, Vernon, BC V1B 3W6 250-545-2028 • Toll Free: 1-866-545-2028

www.adriaticgranite.com

ADRIATIC GRANITE & MARBLE WORKS LTD.

May you ay you enjoy all the enjoy all the blessings this blessings this wonderful wonderful

time of year time of year has to offer.has to offer.

Your our generosity generosity

and support and support have meant have meant

so much so much to us.to us.

Season’season’s Greetings.reetings.

Peaceeace Hopeope

FESTIVAL FARE


Molly Boyd accompanies the All Saints Anglican Church Choir during the Vernon Rotary Carol Festival at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

May Peace be your gift

at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

~Author Unknown


Celebrating Norwegian traditionsNote: This is a story written by my Mom. She passed away seven years ago and upon going through some of her papers I discovered this story. I was compelled to submit it as I know she would have been thrilled. – Judy Albrecht

LAUVIE HANSENFor The Morning Star

I grew up in Northern Manitoba along with my sister and three broth-ers and our parents who always celebrated in their Norwegian Christmas traditions.

There was no power and the closest big gen-eral store was 100 miles away in Winnipeg, so we really learned how to make all the Christmas tree decorations and improvised on every-thing possible.

Our Christmases were always such jubi-lant times. It seemed we began preparing for Christmas about nine months before. Every spring we’d select red willows thickest branches and cut them into six-inch lengths for it was in the spring of the year that the sap was loose and runny. We’d cut as many as we’d need for candles for our Christmas tree. Each six-inch piece we’d tap lightly and roll round and round in our hands until the inside wood would let go from the bark. These round barks we’d save until they were dried or cured.

Then we’d help our Mom (mess and all) make Christmas candles from rendering a tallow mixture and pouring it into the dried round willow tube bark to set. We made wicks from seaming twine from our Dad’s fish nets by cutting the twine about seven inches long and rolled into soft wax and then centred into each candle carefully and allowed to set for several months before peeling off the red willow bark and seeing such pretty and variegated coloured candles. Our Dad would make candle holders that would be clamped and tied to the Christmas tree branches

We also gathered wild hazel nuts in September for part of our Christmas treats. Some years we weren’t able to get many as the

squirrels had beaten us to them. We gathered wild rose bush buds and wild moss berries that grew in swampy places, which was part of our treat to go with either our stuffed wild goose or mallard ducks.

Dad would take us kids by dog team in the carry-all toboggan to choose our Christmas tree. We always tried to choose a tree that would have extra-ripe spruce gum, which, when chewed would turn into lovely pink colour (no sugar). This was an extra gift in itself as that was the only kind of gum us kids ever knew.

We had a lot of work ahead making a chain of connected decorations to be draped around the Christmas tree. We made this by cut-ting paper strips from unlined scribblers or drawing books, three-inch by one-inch lengths and painting them

bright colours from our water paints, then gluing and joining each piece together chain-like with glue we had previously made from rendering down pickerel and perch fish scales and fins. It made the nicest glue and it didn’t show. We also made stars, angels and reindeer decorations from rolls of Dennison crepe paper.

Then on Christmas Eve, when Mom and Dad and us kids fin-ished decorating the Christmas tree, Mom would light up all the candles on the tree, and we would all join hands and dance and sing in Norwegian and English around the Christmas tree.

Then we’d all have cocoa with Laffsa and Kringlar. We were allowed to open one gift each, usually a gift from our Mom and Dad. Then more dancing and singing around our

Christmas tree and hav-ing the thrill of seeing how many candles each one of us kids could blow out before being tucked into our beds.

Christmas Day was such excitement and thrills. Dressing up in our Sunday best and seeing what gifts had been left by Santa for us. I remember well my first pair of skis one Christmas made from large wooden barrel staves with just a toe strap. I was five years old. What spills and thrills.

On Boxing Day Mom and Dad would hitch up our dog team and tuck all us kids into the carryall long toboggan and we’d visit with our neighbours who lived about seven miles away.

The Norwegian way, Mom would make our delicious rice pudding with raisins, eggs and milks and served with brown sugar and cin-namon. In the middle of the pudding Mom would make a well and put a large blob of but-ter in it. That always was our Boxing Day supper treat after Christmas day’s celebrations and hearty foods.

On New Year’s Eve, there was always sleigh bell rides either by teams of horses and sleighs or dog teams with car-ryall toboggans and someone on skis and sing-alongs with people playing mouth organs and Hohner button key accordions.

Now many Christmases later, every-thing is so electrified, but still beautiful and all

my large family grown, I look back and have goodmemories. I have jour-neyed long and far but I still love my Christmases and I am still playing mybutton key accordionand still making good memories.

Many of my loved ones have passed on, but as one dies, another is born, and that is why wecelebrate what we call Christmas.

SUBMITTED ILLUSTRATION

A family dances and sings carols around the tree on Christmas Eve.

250-545-1528250-545-15283119 - 30th Ave.3119 - 30th Ave.

2 doors up from the 2 doors up from the Royal BankRoyal BankYour Downtown JewellerYour Downtown Jeweller

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May the warmth of this joyous season fi ll your heart with peace and happiness throughout the new year.

Season’s Greetings to You & Your Family!

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Merry Christmas from Our Family to YoursMerry Christmas from Our Family to Yours


Season’sGreetings!

We’d like to deliver a load of best wishes to

our patrons along with a bundle of thanks.

Have a great Holiday!

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Would like to wish everyone aWould like to wish everyone aVery Merry Christmas!Very Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone peace and happiness this holiday season and best wishes for the New Year.

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Merry ChristmasMerry ChristmasAt this special time, it At this special time, it is our great pleasure to is our great pleasure to offer our best wishes offer our best wishes for a joyful holiday.for a joyful holiday.

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Tom Meier’s strange Christmas EveROSE VALENTINEFor The Morning Star

Tom Meier sat in his big comfortable chair. His small house was neat and warm, but outside a nasty wind was howl-ing. It was Christmas Eve. Old Tom sat there reminiscing about days gone by. He thought about Nellie, his wife, who died about three years ago. “Nellie,” he thought, and a tiny smile touched his face. “You were the sunshine of my life, old girl.”

Tom heaved a big sigh and looked at the little Christmas tree he had decorated with colour-ful lights and some of Nellie’s most cherished ornaments. He didn’t care much about a tree these days, but Nellie had loved to decorate the Christmas tree and it was with her memory in mind that he kept up the tradition.

Tom picked up a newspaper but couldn’t concentrate. He glanced at the clock. In half an hour the Christmas Eve service would start. Every year, Nellie and he had attended this service. He had never gone again after his wife died.

Tom sat there impa-tiently drumming his fingers against the side of his chair. He sud-denly felt a strange urge to go and attend the Christmas Eve service. He shook his head. Why go out in this miserable weather? Tom tried to read the paper again, but this feeling that he should go out gripped him even more now than before.

Tom Meier got up, went to the closet and got his warm, fur-lined jacket out. “Why in the world am I doing this?” he wondered. “Must have lost my mind.”

All bundled up now, he opened the door and an icy gust of wind hit his face and caused a fine blanket of snow covering the ground to swirl up high. He hesi-tated, but then started his walk to the church. It was almost as if an invisible hand was pushing him.

Tom’s thoughts went back to memories of Nellie. On their walks together to church she

had always tucked her arm firmly through his. Sometimes on an icy patch on the side-walk, she had slipped and Tom quickly caught her before she could fall and hurt herself. Then they had both laughed like happy children. Without Nellie there was no laughter left in his life.

Soon Tom reached the church. The warm glow from the colour-ful windows touched the snow and made it appear like magical rainbow colours. A wel-coming, warm atmo-sphere embraced him as he entered. He took a seat in one of the pews and presently the service started. The Christmas story was read and car-ols were sung.

Tom Meier’s thoughts circled back to Nellie. She had loved to listen to the Christmas story and with her sweet voice she had joined in the Christmas carols.

Tom then sang along in his deep bass voice and Nellie would take his hand and gently squeeze it. A big tear slowly trickled down old Tom’s wrinkled cheek. Memories, memories — they flooded his mind like never before and it felt as if he could reach out and touch Nellie.

The service had ended and Tom Meier was on his way home. The strong wind had turned into a bad storm, whistling and screech-

ing around buildings and through tree tops. He pulled the collar of his jacket up high and walked briskly.

Suddenly, Tom stopped. He thought he had heard a slight whimpering. Could this be a child or animal in trouble? Perhaps it was just the howling wind.

He decided to keep walking but the pitiful sound could be heard stronger now. Tom decided to look around. In a nearby doorway, he spotted a little dog crouched in a corner. “My goodness,” he said. “Your people better let you in pretty soon out of this awful weather.” Tom thought to him-self, “Why don’t people take better care of their animals.”

Shrugging his shoul-ders, he started to walk on. But no sooner had he taken a few steps, when he heard the piti-ful whimpering again — this time quite close to him.

Tom turned around and there was the little creature right behind him. Tom now took a closer look at the whin-ing little dog. “Can’t believe it,” he exclaimed. “You’re as skinny as can be. You don’t seem to have a home.”

The dog looked up at Tom, whimpering. Tom bent down and picked up the pitiful little ani-mal. “Can’t leave you out here,” he muttered. “But after Christmas, it’s to the shelter with you.”

As soon as he cradled the dog in his arms, the whining stopped. After awhile the shaking from the cold ceased as well.

Tom walked as quickly as he could to get out of the nasty cold and soon he reached the comfort of his warm, cozy home.

Carefully, he put the dog down and told him, “Now, little fellow. I’m going to warm up some left-over stew for you. Oh, yes, and you’ll

also get a bowl of warm milk.” With that, Tom Meier got busy and soon the dog was enjoy-ing the first meal he had eaten in quite awhile.

Tom sat down in his comfortable chair again and reached for the paper. The little dog had finished everything that had been offered to him. When Tom looked up, the little guy stood right in front of him, then suddenly got up on his hind legs and turned around in a circle.

Tom laughed out loud. “Well, how about that, you funny little clown!” he said and picked the dog up onto his lap.

He realized that this was the first time since Nellie died that he had laughed.

Tom stroked the dog’s thin, small body. Then he said, “You know, little fellow, I think we’ll forget all about that shelter. I have a feeling the two of us are going to be real good buddies.” He looked thoughtfully at the tail-wagging little guy.

“There’s one thing left to do,” Tom said. “A cute dog like you surely needs a name. Now, what could it be?”

Then he had an idea. “I’ve got it. You’ll by Stormy, since I found you on such a bad, stormy night.” And Stormy wagged his tail and answered with a happy, “yip, yap.”

As Tom sat there caressing his new-found little friend, the events of the evening flashed through his mind again. The overwhelm-ing urge he had felt to venture out in this hor-rible weather, the poor dog so badly in need of someone to take care of him. Suddenly a big smile lit up his whole face.

“Nellie,” he thought. “Dear old girl. You’ve done it again. You always knew how to make your ol’ man happy. From the bottom of my heart — thank you, my sweet! You gave me the perfect Christmas gift.”

And what about Nellie? She felt great joy knowing she had put some happiness, smiles and laughter back into dear old Tom’s life.

“I have a feeling the two of us are going to be real good

buddies.”— Tom Meier


Our Sincere Best Wishesfor a Safe,Happy and

HealthyHoliday Season!Roswitha, Erwin & CarolRoswitha, Erwin & Carol

Sunshine Autobody (Vernon)4504 - 29th Street, Vernon (250) 542-4811

Located just behind the Vernon Canadian Tire.

Erwin & Roswitha Schuster along with Carol Sommerfeld, the offi ce staff at Sunshine Autobody (Vernon) Limited understand that an accident can be an upsetting inconvenience and we will help to get your vehicle back on the road while offering quality repairs & service in our modern State of the Art shop.

STOCKING UP


Terryn Thachuk grabs as much as she can carry from her favourite local food growers at the Christmas Farmer’s Market at the Vernon Recreation Centre.

Three gingerbread girlsSOPHIA WASYLINKOFor The Morning Star

Once upon a time, there were three ginger-bread girls who lived in the Village of Sweets. The youngest was Ginger, the middle girl was Nutmeg, and the oldest was Sonya. They were nice and sweet. One day, the three girls decided to start a new life. They said good-bye to their parents and went to the Valley of Candy. Ginger made a house out of licorice and marshmallows. Nutmeg built a house out of gin-gerbread and chocolate. And Sonya constructed a house out of rocks and cement, decorating it to look like rock candy.

Soon, after the girls had settled into their new homes, a big, bad fox came to Ginger’s house. He wanted to eat it, because it looked so good! The fox asked Ginger, “Will you please let me eat your house?” “No,” she said firmly. The fox was really angry. “I’ll eat it anyways!” he shouted, and bit off the roof. While he ate her home, Ginger ran to Nutmeg’s house, where she was eating lunch. “A fox ate my house, and will eat yours, too!” she cried. “Well, I won’t let him,” Nutmeg decided. So, she put a fan outside

her house and turned it on, hoping to blow the fox away. But, she forgot she needed an extension cord, and the fan didn’t work.

While the fox chomped down the house, Ginger and Nutmeg ran to Sonya’s home as fast as their legs could go. Sonya greeted them courteously and listened calmly to their story. Just then, the fox came. He asked Sonya in a sweet voice, “Will you please spare me a piece of your house?” “No, I won’t,” she answered. The fox turned red with rage. Mistaking it for rock candy, the fox bit into the house and howled so much that the house shook. He’d

broken two of his teeth! “If I can’t eat it, I’ll kick it!” he yelled. He kicked it with his fore leg and howled again. He’d hurt his leg! Still howling, the

fox ran off and neverbothered the girls again.So, Ginger, Nutmeg, andSonya lived happily everafter.

The end.

Season’s GreetingsSeason’s GreetingsFrom Our Pack to YoursFrom Our Pack to Yours

2813 - B, 35th St., Vernon, BC

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K9K9Kind and Gentle CareKind and Gentle Care

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Cell 250-306-5351 • christianacentury21.comEXECUTIVES REALTY LTD.

Wishing you all aHappy Holiday anda prosperous New Year.

REALTOR®

Here’s Hoping You Find Miles of Smiles And Happy Times This Holiday Season!

Vernon Taxi250-545-3337

Capitol Taxi250-545-1355

Call us for a safe ride home...

...please don’t

drink & drive!

We wish you a Merry We wish you a Merry Christmas & God’s richest Christmas & God’s richest blessing in the New Year.blessing in the New Year.

5689 Hwy. 97 Falkland, BC • 250-379-25405689 Hwy. 97 Falkland, BC • 250-379-2540

Thank youThank you for your patronage,

it has been a pleasure serving you this year!

Looking forward to serving

you in 20122012!

4703 - 27th Street, Vernon BC • 250-545-0606www.bannisters.com

Terry Baptist

BANNISTER


Christmas is the season when

you buy this year’s gifts with

next year’s money.

~Author Unknown

HELPING OUT SANTA

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Hillview Elementary School vice-principal Colleen Harvie (left) and principal Marilyn Merler load up the car with toys from the Vernon Principals’ And Vice-Principals’ Association’s Christmas Party, earmarked for Santas Anonymous. Each par-ticipant bought a toy for the person whose name they drew that they would have liked to have had as a child.

TEAM EFFORT


Vernon Coca-Cola Midget Tier 2 Vipers (from left) Taylor Hamilton-Gee, Brandon Rysen, Travis Churchill and Kenny Batke proudly show all the food they and their team-mates managed to collect to contribute to the Realtors Food Drive.

SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEERLISA VANDERVELDE/

MORNING STAR

Don MacLeod (right), Kalamalka Highlanders pipe major, presents $2,957 to Rick Trehearne, presi-dent of Santas Anonymous. The money was raised at the annual Santas Anonymous Pub Crawl they do with their junior band, the Arran Campbell Memorial Youth Pipe Band. They visit pubs and restaurants in Vernon and Armstrong in small bands collecting donations. The tradition has been going for over 20 years.

#1 - 100 KalamalkaLake Road, Vernon, BC 250-549-8468Open Tues. - Sat.

10am-5pm

We would like to thank all of our fabulous customers for

their continued support overthe past year.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Cheers, Cheryl & Barb

Wishing you a picture perfect holiday Wishing you a picture perfect holiday

season fi lled with beautiful moments.season fi lled with beautiful moments.

Merry Christmas andMerry Christmas andHappy New Year!Happy New Year!

The Armstrong SpallumcheenThe Armstrong SpallumcheenChamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce

Bright Christmas stars shine on high, Golden stars in the wint’ry sky; Christmas candles in windows bright Send a greeting into the night ~Marie Irish

Peace and Love

BROWN INTERNATIONAL SERVICESBROWN INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

ARMSTRONG & ENDERBY PHARMACY

Above all, we wish you good health ... Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year!We look forward to serving

you again next year.

ARMSTRONG ENDERBYSTORE: 250-546-3169 STORE: 250-838-6469PHARMACY: 250-546-3195 PHARMACY: 250-838-0502HOLIDAY HOURS:DEC 18: 11AM-4:30PM (ARM. ONLY)DEC 19 THRU DEC 23: 9:00AM-6PMDEC 24: 9:00AM-5:30PMDEC 25: CLOSED

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Merry Christmas and Best Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New YearWishes for the New Year

Residential • Commercial

Locally owned & operated since 1994

From the staff atFrom the staff at


My name is StretchMARIE FIRTHFor The Morning Star

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the world the children were sound asleep in their beds and wait-ing for Santa Claus to come.

But Santa hadn’t even started.He kept busy piling gaily wrapped presents

into his big sleigh and muttering to the two lit-tle elves who were helping him. “I don’t know what to do! All the children are waiting for me and I have a huge load of presents, but I can’t go. My six reindeer are all in bed with the flu, and if that isn’t bad enough, Rudolph has forgotten to get new batteries for his red nose. Oh, what will I do?”

Big tears were running down Santa’s cheeks and soaking his big white beard.

Suddenly, he heard a little voice speak to him. “Don’t worry, Santa. I’ll pull your sleigh tonight.”

Santa straightened up and looked all around but couldn’t see anyone except his two little elves and he knew that it couldn’t be one of them. The only other one around was a small reindeer standing beside him but he was too small.

“Who said that?” cried the big, fat man in the red suit.

“Why I did,” replied the little reindeer. “I can help you deliver all of your presents on time to all the girls and boys.”

“What? A little guy like you? Why, your legs are far too short and I’m sure you can’t fly.”

“No, I can’t fly but you just watch my legs.” The little guy lifted one of his front legs and it started to stretch. It got longer and longer and longer. Then his other front leg did the same

thing, while his back legs stretched to match until he was standing high above Santa.

Santa was staring up at him with his mouth wide open.

“How did you do that?” his voice qua-vered.“Now you know why my name is Stretch.

So, now let’s get started. Time’s a-wasting, Santa.”

Santa quickly closed his mouth and turned to his sleigh. “Oh, no. There is no room for me. I’ll have to leave some of the presents behind. I just have too many.”

“Well, we can easily fix that problem,” said Stretch. “While I pull from the front, you can push from the back. I can see a snowboard in that pile of presents, so just borrow that and push and away we go.”

He picked up the reins while Santa pulled out the

snowboard. Setting his feet properly on the snowboard, he grabbed the back of the sleigh and hollered, “Mush!”

The two little elves who always helped Santa weren’t going to be left behind, and grabbing the runners pulled themselves up into gaps between the presents. They sure didn’t want to miss out on this special trip.

Away they went up into the dark sky and raced through thousands of twinkling stars, up and down many moun-tains, across snowy plains, and when they ran out of snow, Santa traded his snowboard for a skateboard which worked just as well.

The elves had written notes to the boys getting the boards: “Santa thanks you for the use of your board and hopes you enjoy it as much as he did. Merry Christmas!” Then off they went to deliver the rest of the presents before morning.

This special trip was a great success. They were all tired and hungry when they arrived back at Santa’s home. Fortunately, Mrs. Claus had been watching for them and had a good breakfast ready as she was anxious to hear how the trip went. She even had a special meal for Stretch after he had spent some time getting his legs collapsed to a shorter style so he could get them under the table.

Santa still couldn’t believe what had happened or if it was just a dream. If it was, he hoped he’d never wake up.

Merry Christmas!

To our many friends and valued customers … the entire staff at Baron Insurance wishes you a blessed Christmas and a

2012 beyond your expectations!

Landing Plaza - 5301 - 25th Avenue • 250-545-6565

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ARNIE

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BRETTON CHUCK GREG JACKIE JILL LANI RYAN SUSAN


250.542.1801 • #130, 4416 - 27 Streetwww.constructiveconcepts.ca

May your home be lled with the joy of family and friends this

holiday season!

Kyle Davies • 250-308-4663 • Vernon, BC

Custom Home Drywall

E.L. Fox & SonsPlumbing & Heating Ltd.

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Thank you to all our loyal customers. Thank you to all our loyal customers. We wish you a Merry Christmas fi lled We wish you a Merry Christmas fi lled

with Good Health and Happiness.with Good Health and Happiness.

Nagy Nagy LandscapingLandscaping

250.306.9896 • 250.547.2429250.306.9896 • 250.547.2429

NU-LOOK HOMEWORKSRon Kleefman • 250.309.0435

Merry Christmas &Best Wishes for the coming year.

Thank you for your business!

May your holidays May your holidays be everything you be everything you hope for and more!hope for and more!

Thank you Thank you to our to our valued valued

customerscustomers4403 25 Avenue

250-545-0667

250-540-250-540-TINT TINT ((84688468))

Season’s Greetings to all Season’s Greetings to all our valued customers, and our valued customers, and

best wishes for 2012!best wishes for 2012!

Holiday Holiday Greetings Greetings

from these fine from these fine businesses!businesses!To be included in next year’s Holiday Greetings, contact Lynne today!

250.550.7932 or [email protected]


SEASONS GREETINGSSEASONS GREETINGS

#104, 3307 - 32nd Avenue, Vernon • 250-542-2721 • www.okanaganskinandlaser.com

Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season. We look forward

to seeing you in the new year.Kristina, Lori, Lisa and Liz

Courtesy Motors

Merry Merry ChristmasChristmas

THE PEOPLE WHO CARE

Neil & Bobbi Catt Tel: (250) 542-9111 4313 -31st Street

Vernon B.C. V1T 5J8www.autoproservice.com

Proud member of N.O.R.A.

Wishing you a Merry CWishing you a Merry Christmas ristmas & Happy New Year& Happy New Year

from the Board and Staff of theGreater Vernon Chamber of Commerce!

#102 - 2901 32#102 - 2901 32ndnd St, Vernon, BC V1T 5M2 St, Vernon, BC V1T 5M2

250.545.0771250.545.0771www.vernonchamber.ca • [email protected]

The 2012 Membership Directory is now available!The 2012 Membership Directory is now available!

JOYOUS JOURNEY

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mary and Joseph make their way to the stable during the Coldstream Community Light Up at the Coldstream Christian Church.

Wishing you a brightWishing you a brightand happy holidayand happy holiday


From all the staff at

Wishing You All a Great Holiday Season!

We would like to extend our sincerest We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our clients who have supported gratitude to our clients who have supported us over the years. We wish you all the best us over the years. We wish you all the best

this holiday season! We look forward to this holiday season! We look forward to continuing to serve you in the New Year...continuing to serve you in the New Year...

8105 Highland Place, Vernon250-549-0416

For all your Millwork requirements visit us at www.greystokemillwork.com

Residential to CommercialKitchen & Bathroom Design • Customized Space Planning

Interior Design Services • Project Management

To all our drivers and carriers who go above and beyond, not just at Christmas but all year long!

Tammy, Donna & The Morning Star Staff

4407 - 25th Avenue, Vernon, B.C. V1T 1P5250.545.3322

www.vernonmorningstar.comwww.vernonmorningstar.com

Happy Holidays to You All!Happy Holidays to You All!

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Kelsey von Holst, orga-nizer of the Coldstream Community Light Up, helps Silken Wisbey, River Wisbey and mom Brandie Wisbey hold up eight years of holiday tradition. The Wisbey family has been attend-ing the Coldstream Light Up since River was born and have a decora-tion from every year. Santa Claus (left) makes his much-anticipated arrival at the light up and is greeted by kids of all ages eager to see him.

VMSS111218

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